True or Not: Jones waited until Ngannou left the UFC to come back

[HAWTRIDDUM]

There seems to be a lot of rhetoric online that Jones waited until Ngannou left the UFC before Jones accepted a new contract and came back.

From what I remember, Jones had been negotiating a new contract with the UFC on and off since 2021 and neither side came to an agreement until this January. Jones seems to think Francis was offered a fight with him but turned down the offered contract and fight with it.

Francis supposedly turned down two fights with Derrick Lewis last year because he was concentrated on trying to get a fight with Jones signed for his return fight, as well as wanting a new and better contract.

Immediately after Ngannou exits, Jones signs an 8 fight contract and Jones vs Gane is announced.

Was Jones already signed to fight on last night's card before the Gane fight was announced?

Is there any evidence to the online accusations against Jones not signing until Ngannou left?

 

[Mebetter]

Francis said himself he was offered $8 million to fight Jones, and Jones had been training for the Francis fight for the last year, and then Francis priced himself out with the negotiations.

 

[BearGrounds]

If he didn't plan it that way, he lucked the fuck out for sure.

Either way, this is Satan's realm, so I'm not surprised things went swimmingly for Jones. He's a loyal subject.

 

[J180]

False if you likes facts, fight was on table according to Ngannou for 8 million. He walked away for the reasons he gave.

 

[Kowboy On Sherdog]

I thought it was in 2020 but didn't cause he was ducking Stipe....

Never change internet

 

[ultra321]

Jones is ducking frank

 

[RedDevilFan]

If he didn't plan it that way, he lucked the fuck out for sure.

Either way, this is Satan's realm, so I'm not surprised things went swimmingly for Jones. He's a loyal subject.

Welcome to his realm, my son. You can always ask him to come into your home anytime you want and he will oblige.

 

[USA!USA!]

This thread is stupid. It wasn't Jones that didn't want to fight, buddy. That much has been made clear.

 

[trilla]

False. But doesn't matter. All will bow to Sheepcat Ragnarok.

 

[BearGrounds]

Welcome to his realm, my son. You can always ask him to come into your home anytime you want and he will oblige.

I'm good on that, but thanks for the offer, minion. I'm flattered.

 

[RockyLockridge]

it's very obviously false

 

[I WILL CUT YOU]

Jones is ducking frank

Nah, Frank had an $8m offer to fight Jon and left the organization instead.

 

[MMAProfessional]

Still could happen once Ngannou doesn't get offered a big boxing payday like he thinks. It's funny some believe he was doing it for other fighters though.

 

[HAWTRIDDUM]

This thread is stupid. It wasn't Jones that didn't want to fight, buddy. That much has been made clear.

Hence why I said "there is a lot of RHETORIC online", buddy.

I myself don't believe Jones is scared to fight Ngannou or anyone else. Jones spent years training with UFC heavyweights at Jacksons. Moving these bigger guys around is nothing new to him.

 

[Jokke]

Ngannou left because Jones was ready to fight at HW

 

[VAfan]

it clearly wasn't ducking, but it just as clearly worked out perfectly for jones. he looks all set to rule a second division for years now.

 

[Tweak896]

I said it before, but after his bad knee injury, Jones would mop up Ngannou and people will say how Jones only wanted to fight because of the knee injury Ngannou had. There is no winning. Ngannou could resign and lose to Jones and people will say Jones didn't want to fight a prime Ngannou.

 

[USA!USA!]

Hence why I said "there is a lot of RHETORIC online", buddy.

I myself don't believe Jones is scared to fight Ngannou or anyone else. Jones spent years training with UFC heavyweights at Jacksons. Moving these bigger guys around is nothing new to him.

Who gives a fuck about rhetoric. It is obvious that is what happened. Jones said as much - it's facts. Francis didn't want it and left, and Jones signed on with Gane. Not even a question.

 

[Dr Fong]

The people who are posting the Francis side of the negotiations are conveniently leaving out the part where Jones sat out for three f*cking years and openly admitted he wouldn't take the Francis fight without a big payday because he was afraid of getting knocked out.

But he wasn't ducking Francis in the purest sense. He is not 'scared' of him but he is happy to avoid him.

I think it was akin to the Chuck vs Tito situation where Tito proved he was man enough to get in the cage ultimately 3 times - it was not about cowardice. But he did also try to avoid it because of the risk to his career.

 

[Voah]

A lot of people want to dismiss what Francis accomplished with 2 minutes of Jones out wrestling a talented, but French kickboxer. Francis leaving was about business, not just money. He wanted at least some of the freedoms that boxers have, but the UFC's business model is extremely one-sided and will never allow that. Dana didn't get richer than all fighters in the history of the UFC combined by giving in like that. Just the opposite.

Jones looked fat, too, like he didn't train much. And the announcement of this fight was done to help UFC fans forget and dismiss Francis like they did. Looks like it worked perfectly for them.